Louis Vuitton shoes made in Romania, Balenciaga sneakers in China: What is the future of luxury?

Balenciaga’s foundation is rooted in luxury. The Paris-based brand’s founder, the late Cristóbal Balenciaga, or who Mr. Christian Dior called "the master of us all,” put his eponymous label on the map thanks to his precise tailoring and technical mastery. One of most influential couturiers of the 20th century, he continues to be revered as “the supreme deity of the Paris salons more than 40 years after his death,” and the house that he built, the source of luxury goods rivaling those of the other well-established French houses that show b-annual couture collections. Fast forward to 2018, though, and things look a bit different. You need not look further than the tags that adorn some of Balenciaga’s products as of late. One of its buzziest products – the Triple S sneaker, which was initially produced in Italy – is now being made in China. As documented by Business Korea, un...